By Lindsey Coulter

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Construction of the new American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University recently marked a major construction milestone with the ceremonial topping out of the new David E. and Stacey L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance. The A.R.T. plans to welcome audiences in early 2027.

Located in the Allston neighborhood of Boston, the new home for the A.R.T. was designed to foster groundbreaking performance, public gathering, teaching and international research. The Goel Center for Creativity & Performance is designed by Haworth Tompkins (architect and design lead) and ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge (architect of record), in collaboration with theater and acoustic consultant Charcoalblue. Shawmut Design and Construction serves as the project’s construction manager.

“Reaching the topping off milestone on the new home of the American Repertory Theater is an incredible moment for everyone involved in bringing this visionary project to life,” said Kevin Sullivan, Executive Vice President of Shawmut Design and Construction’s New England Region. “This structure represents both a remarkable technical achievement and a new benchmark for sustainable, low-carbon construction. Raising the final piece of the mass timber structure not only marks the next chapter in the A.R.T.’s story, but also stands as a symbol of innovation, collaboration, and community impact that will define this building for decades to come.”

Conceived through core principles of openness, artistic flexibility, collaboration, sustainability, and regenerative design, the Goel Center will provide interconnected, adaptable, multi-use spaces that support creativity and embrace future change. It will include two flexible performance venues — one seating 700 guests and capable of hosting large-scale productions as well as a versatile and intimate 300-seat black box theater. Additional spaces will include light-filled rehearsal studios and teaching spaces, a spacious public lobby, a café, and an outdoor performance yard. The building will also include dressing rooms, technical shops and administrative offices

A blend of peer review and scientific contributions from across Harvard University informed a rigorous design process. Members of The Harvard Healthy Buildings Academy, the Harvard Office for Sustainability, the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Health, the Arnold Arboretum, and the Harvard Graduate School of Design each contributed to the project.

The center advances Harvard’s ambitious sustainability priorities and is designed with a blend of environmental and social strategies to minimize embodied and operational carbon, maximize wellbeing, boost biodiversity and enhance resiliency. This holistic approach to sustainable and regenerative design sets up the Goel Center to achieve Living Building Challenge Core accreditation from the International Living Future Institute, recognizing that it gives more to its environment than it takes.

A key driver of this commitment is the use of low-carbon, responsibly sourced materials. The building is constructed with laminate mass timber, reclaimed brick and cedar cladding to minimize its lifetime carbon budget. More than 2,000 individual mass timber components have been installed, including columns, beams, floors, walls, stairways and elevator shafts.

“We’re celebrating not just the placement of the final piece of mass timber but also the 50% point of construction.” said Susan Malaab, Senior Project Manager with Harvard Capital Projects. “The planning for the A.R.T. performance center began in 2018 with workshops that prioritized the goals of the project. Flexibility, public gathering, accessibility and a model of sustainability would shape the design. The design and construction team formed a partnership to reach those goals while maintaining the scope and budgetary requirements. The construction of the building will support the incremental expansion of the innovation ecosystem for the arts in Allston.”

The building’s chilled water, hot water and electric utilities will be supplied by Harvard’s new lower-carbon District Energy Facility. Additional clean energy will be generated by rooftop solar panels, while natural ventilation will reduce energy use and enhance occupant comfort. A green roof and extensive plantings will aid stormwater attenuation, increase biodiversity, and promote occupant wellbeing.

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The project team also includes New York-based Marvel, with Cambridge firm NorthStar Project & Real Estate Services serving as project manager.��

“The topping off of 100 South Campus Drive is a milestone moment for both the Harvard and Allston communities,” said Kevin Sullivan, executive vice president of Shawmut’s New England Region, in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with Harvard on this transformative project, delivering critical sustainable housing and public spaces. Together with the new home of the American Repertory Theater, the reimagining of 175 North Harvard Street will establish a dynamic, sustainable live-play hub for the community.”��

The project’s ground level will include 75 car parking spaces and 250 sheltered bicycle parking spaces. It will also include tree-lined areas and numerous green spaces, fostering a biophilic environment for urban connectivity, as well as an integrated stormwater-management system.��������

When complete, the low-rise building will also feature a plethora of natural daylight. The facade will showcase multiple windows using triple-glazed technology as well as an optimized window-to-wall ratio and double-height glass enclosures to help maintain energy efficiency while also bridging the gap between indoor and outdoor spaces.����

The building is set to achieve Living Building Challenge Certification from the International Living Future Institute, a certification program that recognizes projects that perform exceptionally in the areas of water, energy and materials use — and measures metrics such as equity, beauty, place, health and happiness.����

The new American Repertory Theater (A.R.T) in Allston, also built��by Shawmut Design and Construction, began construction in March 2024 and is slated to open doors in 2026. The A.R.T.’s predecessor, the Loeb Drama Center, was undersized for current needs and faced aging-related maintenance challenges.��The new community-integrated, highly sustainable complex will provide both entertainment and collaborative public spaces.��

The David E. and Stacy L. Goel Center for Creativity & Performance within the A.R.T. is the first project in the US designed by UK-based architecture firm Haworth Tompkins, which was selected for its experience with theater and sustainable design as well as urban development.��The firm designed the facility to achieve Living Building Challenge core accreditation from the International Living Future Institute through its sustainable and regenerative design.��The structure itself will minimize carbon use through the integration of laminate mass timber, recycled brick and cedar cladding. Rooftop solar panels will capture clean energy, while a green roof featuring a variety of plants will help manage stormwater and promote biodiversity. The building’s water and electric utilities will be derived from Harvard University’s new 58,000-square-foot lower-carbon District Energy Facility that was completed in 2021 and has since earned LEED Gold certification.��

The center’s West Stage will support large-scale productions while the East Stage will accommodate more intimate shows. Technical shops and administrative offices will be located throughout the building. The A.R.T will also house state-of-the-art rehearsal studios, a spacious lobby and an outdoor performance yard that will host free and ticketed performances. With a focus on community, the complex will offer food and beverage services, public restrooms, meeting spaces, art installations and room rental opportunities as well as��free Wi-Fi.��

Once the A.R.T. is complete, the Loeb Center is set to be renovated and transitioned into an additional space for theater, dance and media program students with private bathrooms and showers, an on-site costume shop, rehearsal spaces and above-ground dressing rooms.����

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By Juliet Chun

Today’s students desire a variety of study spaces, choosing among diverse scenarios whether working together or alone. COVID-19 has amplified the need for these options due to crucial six-feet-apart social distancing. As higher education projects comprising interior fit-outs or renovations proliferate, how can we integrate this type of flexibility within a building’s existing footprint? In the case of Harvard University’s Computer Science / Statistics Data Science Lab (CS/SDS Lab) and the Cabot Science Library’s second floor—two projects with different programs and sets of existing conditions—a deeper understanding of social interaction levels informed our firm’s renovation of their array of public and private spaces in a variety of configurations.

Both projects, located in the 1973 Josep Lluis Sert-designed Science Center, a modern landmark, introduce natural daylight and utility into the original precast building. Because of the existing structure’s constraints, careful planning was required to ensure maximum malleability. First, transparency and electricity were introduced throughout, providing reimagined settings for the spatial configurations to come. Glass partitions were inserted where separation was needed, allowing daylight to penetrate many of the interior rooms. Abundant electrical outlets were added to amplify student workspace and furniture arrangement options. This environment provided the backdrop for further study of program placement and evolving social interactions that led to our design.

Our design team developed a framework of “social interaction intensity” to help define spaces that support a clear range of density. Using four levels of interaction as a guide, the team identified distinct areas for level 1 (studying alone), level 2 (quietly working together), level 3 (group meetings), and level 4 (casual conversations). These areas were deemed appropriate for each of the project’s differing programs. The CS/SDS Lab now comprises a variety of shared open spaces, shared offices, and private offices. Users here typically work individually on their laptops or collaboratively together over glass writing boards and lively debates. The Cabot Science Library second floor has several group study rooms surrounding one large, central area. Separated by glass from the basement and first floors, this space provides a quiet area where students can work within a larger study context.

Based on typed and planned location of furniture, specific areas of interaction were identified within each project. Areas in remote locations of the plan were tagged as level 1 (places for quiet study), and rooms and spaces near entrances or circulation were tagged level 4 (places for casual exchange). Furniture also played a part in this plan: pod-like, single-seated furniture indicates a desire to be alone (level 1), table and chairs provide a place to quietly work together (level 2), individual soft seating invites a quick “hello” (level 3), and group lounge furniture fosters conversation (level 4). These options give students the flexibility they desire day-to-day.

Focusing on a variety of interaction levels also allowed the team to carefully incorporate a range of social densities and create spaces that were inherently flexible and adaptable to multiple uses.��Two foldable glass wall partitions were used in the CS/SDS Lab to expand the work area when, biannually, a hackathon event takes place. For all other times, the space can be broken into three areas: the kitchenette, work area, and small conference room—spaces that inherently need and provide different types of social exchange.

By recognizing and designing for interaction levels, one can also begin to understand the implications of these social densities in relation to COVID-19. Spaces that were once designed for open public interaction can be easily modified for social distancing by removing chairs and rearranging tables. For the Cabot Science Library’s second floor, the plan allows for multiple situations: a one-way seating direction or staggered seating for individual distancing, group study rooms for those already living together to study together while being distanced from others, and taller table partitions that can replace existing partitions if added security is needed. Even highly public areas designed for group discussion such as those in the CS/SDS Lab can be re-arranged to accommodate fewer people with appropriate social distance observed.

By designing a malleable architectural framework that allows for flexibility, using social interaction research and levels as a guide, we can collectively create interior spaces that accommodate many configurations and shared settings, meeting today’s COVID-19 academic challenges and tomorrow’s student needs.

Juliet Chun, AIA, is an architect with Leers Weinzapfel Associates.

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Consigli Construction was tasked with not only fulfilling this vision, but addressing many challenges such as repurposing and revitalizing an important mid-century structure and meeting the necessary demands of working on a very active building that would remain fully occupied and accessible throughout the entire project. After 36 months, the removal of 975 tons of demolition debris, and the reconstruction and renovation of six key building areas, Harvard now boasts 385,000 square feet of dedicated community space in the Smith Campus Center.

Hopkins Architects (Design Architect) & Bruner/Cott & Associates, Inc. (Executive Architect) led the design efforts of the ambitious undertaking.

Aiming to anchor Harvard’s Cambridge campus, President Drew Faust’s vision for common spaces and “One Harvard” required the major renovation and restoration of the Smith Campus Center, located in the heart of Harvard Square. The structure, originally built in two phases between 1961 and 1966 and designed by influential mid-century architect Josep Lluís Sert, is a 10-story H-shaped concrete building with two stories of below-grade parking, retail and 18 different Harvard administrative offices. All building occupants remained in-place during invasive interior and exterior construction.

The revamped facility serves as Harvard’s Welcome Center and features a compelling two-story glass enclosure at Forbes Plaza, creating an iconic “front door” to the building. Interior updates included significant renovations to the first floor Arcade and Mezzanine levels, which offers diverse University dining options, common spaces for clubs, social gatherings and student collaboration and technological capabilities for movie screenings and multimedia presentations. Sustainable elements include interior green wall landscaping and three roof gardens on the Holyoke Pavilion, Dunster Pavilion and the 10th floor, which also houses a restaurant and additional common spaces. Finally, Consigli renovated Harvard’s University Health Services (UHS) to expand and improve services to its student population. This project is targeting LEED Gold certification.

Key Details:

• Location: Cambridge, Ma
• Size/Type: 385,000 Sq. Ft. / Renovation & Restoration
• Cost: Confidential
• Delivery Method: CM at Risk
• Duration: 36 Months
• Architect: Hopkins Architects (Design Architect) & Bruner/Cott & Associates, Inc. (Executive Architect)

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The summer upgrades at the district’s maintenance facility will be complete by August, and Bethel Elementary School is getting new windows and a larger nurse station, reported the . Plus, the district transportation center is also undergoing a $1.2 million renovation that includes a new driveway.

Finishing up these projects will allow the district to move its focus to construction on the five larger projects. The new projects will include a new elementary school, middle school, field replacements at various schools and a new aquatic center as well as the conversion of the current Clover Middle School into a ninth grade academy for the high school.

The $2.5 million field replacement project at Clover High School’s Memorial Stadium is already underway. The stadium will be renovated with synthetic turf, which will also be installed at three other district fields. The middle school field being replaced required additional land clearing, and the dirt from the transportation center project is being used in the fields.

Construction is also underway on some of the new schools, too. A construction entrance and slit fences have been put up for the $40 million middle school replacement project. Timber has been removed to make way for the $25 million elementary school project. Plus, staff will begin touring YMCA facilities this week to spark ideas for the $14 million aquatics center. Construction on the center should start in February, with a scheduled completion in spring 2016.

The ninth grade academy will likely be the last project to be completed. Meetings on the $10 million building will begin this fall. The building will still be used as a school for the coming year, so it won’t be transitioned until after the new middle school replacement project is completed in 2016. As such, the academy is scheduled to open in August 2017.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Cumming is serving as the construction manager on the project.

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